The city wore red and gold. Flags waved. Voices rose in celebration. But amidst the euphoria of RCB’s historic IPL win, something went terribly wrong…
A country that celebrates cricket like a festival could never have thought that victory would come along with such a big tragedy. The RCB team members, including Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, were felicitated at the Vidhan Soudha by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at around 5 PM IST. After the felicitation ceremony, an open bus parade was planned. Because of this parade, lakhs of people gathered around the area where it was supposed to take place. It turned tragic as 11 people died and close to 50 people got injured in the event.
An FIR has been registered against Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), event management company DNA, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee,e and others at Cubbon Park Police Station day after 11 people were killed in a stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium.
What led to the stampede at RCB’s celebration?
The incident has been attributed to criminal negligence. DNA Entertainment managed the victory celebrations of RCB’s victory in the IPL. The event was organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) as per the state government.
Notices will also be sent to the KSCA, the Bengaluru metro, and the RCB franchise. This has been asserted by the district magistrate G Jagadeesha, whom the Karnataka government appointed to investigate the incident. The case has been registered at Cubbon Park station, as per the police.
Relevant sections: Of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Section 105- Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Section 115- Voluntarily causing hurt
Section 118- Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means
Section 190- Liability of members of an unlawful assembly for offences committed in pursuit of a common object
Section 132- Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty
Section 125(12)- Acts endangering the life or personal safety of others
Section 142- Unlawful assembly
Section 121- abetment of an offence
The stampede happened owing to a public event to felicitate the RCB team after their maiden victory in the Indian Premier League.
India Coach Gautam Gambhir Slams RCB’s IPL Title Celebration Road Show
The head coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir, has also made a strong statement on the tragic stampede in Bengaluru. This statement has been made at a pre-departure press conference ahead of the India vs England Test series. He stated that “I was never a believer of road shows. I had the same statement to make even after winning in 2007, we should never have road shows. Maybe in the future we can do something in a stadium. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives. All I can say is, we need to be responsible. Every life matters. If we are not ready to hold a road show, we should not do that. You cannot at any point of time lose 11 people,” he added.